Bellows for idle air control valve of vehicle

Abstract

An idle air control valve for a vehicle includes a housing ( 21 ), a motor ( 32 ) disposed in the housing, a shaft ( 29 ) associated with the motor, and a bellows assembly ( 30 ) including a bellows structure ( 10 ) having a first end defining a base ( 14 ), a second, opened end ( 16 ), and a bellows ( 18 ) between the first and second ends. An annular rim member ( 28 ) is associated with the second opened end. A pintle ( 24 ) has surfaces defining an annular groove ( 26 ) therein. The annular rim member ( 28 ) is received, in press-fit engagement, in the annular groove ( 26 ). The base ( 14 ) is in press-fit engagement with a recess ( 22 ) in the housing and the pintle ( 24 ) is coupled with an end of the shaft, such that the bellows structure together with the pintle surround the shaft and provide a barrier substantially preventing contaminants from entering the motor.

1. A bellows assembly for an idle air control valve of a vehicle, the bellows assembly comprising:
 a bellows structure having a first end defining a base, a second, opened end, and a bellows between the first and second ends, the bellows structure including an internal annular rim member associated with the second opened end thereof, and 
 a pintle having external surfaces defining an annular groove therein, the annular rim member of the bellows structure being received in the annular groove thereby coupling the bellows structure with the pintle. 
 
   
   
     2. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bellows structure is of epichlorohydrin material having a durometer of about 70. 
   
   
     3. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the annular rim member and the annular groove are in press-fit engagement. 
   
   
     4. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pintle includes a first portion received within an internal portion of the bellows structure and a second portion extending outside of the internal portion of the bellows structure. 
   
   
     5. The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bellows defines a generally cylindrical interior space. 
   
   
     6. The assembly of  claim 5 , further comprising a coil spring disposed within the interior space and biasing the pintle. 
   
   
     7. The assembly of  claim 1 , in combination with an idle air control valve of a vehicle, the idle air control valve having a housing, the housing including a recess, the base of the bellows structure being in press-fit engagement with the recess. 
   
   
     8. The combination of  claim 7 , wherein the pintle is engaged with a linearly movable shaft of a motor of the idle air control valve, with the bellows completely surrounding an entire portion of the shaft that is not engaged with the pintle so that the bellows together with the pintle provide a barrier substantially preventing contaminants from entering the motor. 
   
   
     9. The combination of  claim 8 , further comprising a coil spring biasing the pintle in an extended position of the shaft, the bellows surrounding the shaft and the coil spring. 
   
   
     10. The combination of  claim 8 , wherein the motor is a stepper motor. 
   
   
     11. An idle air control valve for a vehicle, the idle air control valve comprising:
 a housing, 
 a motor disposed in the housing, 
 a shaft associated with the motor such that operation of the motor causes linear motion of the shaft, and 
 a bellows assembly comprising:
 a bellows structure having a first end defining a base, a second, opened end, and a bellows between the first and second ends, the bellows structure including an internal annular rim member associated with the second opened end thereof, and 
 a pintle having external surfaces defining an annular groove therein, the annular rim member of the bellows structure being received, in press-fit engagement, in the annular groove, thereby coupling the bellows structure with the pintle, 
 
 wherein the base of the bellows is in press-fit engagement with a recess defined in the housing and the pintle is coupled with an end of the shaft, with the bellows structure together with the pintle surrounding the shaft and providing a barrier substantially preventing contaminants from entering the motor. 
 
   
   
     12. The idle air control valve assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the bellows structure is of epichlorohydrin material having a durometer of about 70. 
   
   
     13. The idle air control valve of  claim 11 , wherein the pintle includes a first portion received within an internal portion of the bellows structure and a second portion extending outside of the internal portion of the bellows structure. 
   
   
     14. The idle air control valve of  claim 11 , wherein the bellows defines a generally cylindrical interior space. 
   
   
     15. The idle air control valve of  claim 14 , further comprising a coil spring biasing the pintle in an extended position of the shaft, the bellows surrounding the shaft and the coil spring. 
   
   
     16. A method of providing a contaminant barrier for an idle air control valve of a vehicle, the idle air control valve including a housing, a motor disposed in the housing, a shaft associated with the motor such that operation of the motor causes linear motion of the shaft, the method comprising:
 providing a bellows structure having a first end defining a base, a second, opened end, and a bellows between the first and second ends, the bellows structure including an internal annular rim member associated with the second opened end thereof, 
 providing a pintle having external surfaces defining an annular groove therein, 
 sliding the second end of the bellows structure over a portion of the pintle so that the annular rim member of the bellows structure is received, in press-fit engagement, in the annular groove, thereby coupling the bellows structure with the pintle, and 
 coupling the pintle to an end of the shaft, and 
 press-fitting the base of the bellows structure into a recess in the housing, with the bellows together with the pintle surrounding the shaft and providing a barrier substantially preventing contaminants from entering the motor. 
 
   
   
     17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of providing the bellows, includes defining a generally cylindrical interior space in the bellows. 
   
   
     18. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 providing a coil spring that biases the pintle in an extended position of the shaft, the bellows surrounding the shaft and the coil spring. 
 
   
   
     19. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of providing the bellows structure includes providing the bellows structure of epichlorohydrin material having a durometer of about 70.